A. Summary of Research Progress: Theory of the Reticular

Research on the functional organization of the reticular core of vertebrate control nervous systems has reached a significant landmark. Our problem is as described in Quarterly Progress Report No. 76 (page 313), but our progress has been achieved with a somewhat different model than that mentioned there. The new model is enclosed within heavy lines in Fig. XXII-1, with everything outside only for generating an appropriately structured environment for computer simulation. The yij in Fig. XXII-1 are all 3-variable symmetric switching functions of the binary a-.. The typical module interconnection scheme is suggested by the M 5 hookup. Each module in Fig. XXII-1 is a hybrid probability computer, with schematic as shown in Fig. XXII-2. It receives 4-component probability vectors Pgi from above and Pai from below, as well as generating a corresponding Pri from its Nia part. The jth component in each case is the probability as computed by the module of origin that the over-all reticular formation model's present yij input-signal configuration is properly a mode j one. The Pai' Psi' and P .vectors are passed componentwise through an f function as shown in Fig. XXII-3, and weighted in the subsequent 'Av' units according to formulas of the type